Electric signaling system for mines



A. MAJOR.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM FOR MINES.

APPLlCATlON FILED JUNE 14, 1919.

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MM i A. MAJOR;

ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM FOR MINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNK-I14 l9l-9.

1 ,4 ()5,853, Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

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APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1919. v

A. MAIOR. ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM FOR MINES.

Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

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PATENT OFFlCE.

ALBERT MAJOR, OF SHENANDOAH, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM FOR MINES.

Application filed June 14, 1919.

ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ami-1m MAJOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shenandoah, in the county of Schuylkill and .State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Signaling Systems for Mines, of which the following is a specification.

I This invention relates to electric signaling systems for mines.

In coal and other mines it is customary to employ signaling devices in order that those in charge of the Work may intelligently supervise the hoisting of the products of the mine and the workmen in the mine. Ordinarily a man is stationed at the bottom of the slope or shaft and one at the top of the slope or shaft, in addition to the engineer, and in the course of the work, the attendant at the bottom of the shaft, when conditions are proper, will press a button ringing an electricvbell at the top of the shaft, this bell being usually so positioned that it will be heard by the attendant at the top of the shaft and also by the engineer. Then if the attendant at the top of the shaft finds that conditions are proper he presses a but ton which rings an electric bell which is heard by the engineer who then either starts on his trip or sets in motion the hoisting machinery. It not infrequently happens, however, that for one reason or another some time must elapse between the giving of the signal by the attendant at the bottom of the shaft and the engineers performance of his duties with the result that because of the delay on the part of the engineer, the attendant at the bottom of the course, likelihood of accident. In consideration of the foregoing the present invention has as lts primary ob]ect to provlde an electricsignallng system for mlnes constructed to operate in such a. manner that there can be no misunderstanding on the part of the attendants responsible for operation thereunder, the signals displayed being maintained until the engineer has'begun to per- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. '7, 1922.

Serial No. 304,228.

form his duties and being automatically discontinued when the train has started on its trip into the mine or the cage has started to lower, thus giving ample warning to the attendant at the bottom of the shaft or slope that he is to maintain conditions accordingly.

, In theaccompanying drawings:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a portion of the mechanism embraced in the system embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the electro-magnetic circuit closer shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the view also illustrating the wiring of the circuits embraced in the system;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of the electro-magnetic circuit closing device.

The invention comprehends a novel arrangement of signal circuits whereby m0- mentary audible signals may be given, and prolonged visible signals may be displayed, an clectro-magnetic circuit closing device being interposed in the audible signal circuit and designed to be actuated, when this circuit is energized, so as to close the visible signalv circuit and maintain the same closed position for a more or less prolonged period of time, or more specifically until conditions are such that the display of the visible signals is nolonger required or desired, means being provided for automatically, at such time, actuating the said electromagnetic circuit closing device to open the visible signal circuit.

As a matter of convenience I' will first describe the electro-magnetic circuit closing device and then describe the signal circuits and the manner in which the system is to operate.

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates in general the base of the electromagnetic switch device, which base is supported in any suitable manner as for example by a bracket 2 and preferably in the inclined position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings,

for a purpose to be presently explained. Mounted upon this base 1 are a pair of electro-magnets 3 wired tobinding posts 4: and 5 upon the said base. The numeral 6 indicates a bridge-piece which is secured to the base 1' and extends above the magnets 3 and is provided with an arch 7 through which are adjustably threaded screws 8 and 9. The screw 8 is provided with a fiber tip 10 and constitutes an abutment for the armature for the magnets, which armature is indi- V catedby the numeral 11 and is mounted for rocking movement upon the usual bracket 12 upon thebase 1. The armature is provided with an upstanding finger 13 designed in one position of the armature to strike against the fiber point 10 of the abutment crew 8 and in the. other position of the armatureto strilre against the end of the screw 9 which constitutes an electrical contact. The brldge 6 wh1ch is 1n electrical contact with the contact screw 9, is connected by-a wire 14 with a binding post 15 pon the base 1, the armature being elecs trically connected by a wire'16 with a binding post 17 upon the said base as clearly shown in Fig; 350i the drawings. At this point it willjbe evident that when thearmature is not attracted by the electro-magnets 3, it will-,byreason of theinclined disposition of the base 1', rest by gravity against the abutment screw 8 as shown in Fig. l;

of the -drawings', but of course, when the electro-in'agnets are energized and the armature is attracted to the cores thereof, itwill beabrought into contact with. the contact screw 9 and consequently with the bridge piece 6; In order to hold the armature in its'last mentioned position for an indefinite period of time, a detentis provided and is indicated in general in the drawings by the numerallS, This detent comprises an arm 19 which is'pivoted asat 20 at one endto the upper end of abracket 21 upon the base 1 and atits free end the arm is provided with a nose 22 having abeveled shoulde 1 23. The arm is provided above the nose with a finger 24 which is inclined upwardly and has its lower edge correspondingly disposed, the inclined lower edge of the said finger being indicated by the numeral 25. A notch '26 is formed in the upper ,edge of the armature '11 and has an inclined bottom wall'27.

V As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings,the

nose 23 normally rests at its loweredge in r the notch 26 with its shoulder 23 located in 7 advance otthe armature plate 11,01 in other words, inadvance of that face of the plate ;wh1ch is presented toward the cores of the eleotromagnets 3. However, when the electro magnets are energized, and the armature is attra-cted :to the cores thereof, the detent arm 18 Wlll drop as the shoulder 23 or" its nose 22 rides into engagement with the 1n-' clined bottom wall 27 of the notch-26 and thus the armature will be held in attracted positio-niand consequently in electrical contact withtheicontact screw 9. As a result,-

a. ;momentary energization of the electromagnets will move the'arnlature to position closing the circuit inwhich it and the screw .9 are located, and the armature wlll be held inthis'position even after deenergization of the electro-magnets. a

In order' that the armature maybe released for return to its normal position under conditions to be presently made clear,

means are provided which will now be-de= scribed. The numeral 28 indicates the guide L member of an indicator such as is employed in connection with mineelevators or'ca'ges,

and similar mechanisms, to indicate the position, ;for example, of the cage within the shaft, and 29'ind1cates the shde which 18 mounted n th1s guide and which is conmechanism ofthe indicator-'whi chiis automatieally controlled by the cage hoisting and lowering devices. Aroclnng leverarm 31 1s mounted at oneside of the g-u1de-28 and its lower endcarries. a shoe 32 which is positioned in the path of downward movenected by achain or. cable 30 with the ment of the slide 29. To the upper end of p the arm.3l there is pivotally connected as;

at 38, one end'ot the stem of alifting memfher 3% resting shda-bly'in a guide or sup port 35 upon the said base 1. The free end of this member is bent laterally to provide a finger 36 which extends transversely beneath the inclined lower edge 25 of the shown in Fig. 1. of the drawings. A spring finger 2% ofthe detent member 18 asclearly 37 is connected to the guide andsupport 35 1 and to the lever arm 3l-above the pivot for the latter and it will now be understood that while thisspringnormally holds the lever i rot-[red to substantially the positionshown in l of the drawings'in which position the finger 36 will be located beneath the forward end of the finger 2%, when theJslide 29 rides past the shoe 32, the said'lever arm 31 will be rocked against the tension of the spring 37 thus pullingthe finger 36 longi tudinally inwardly beneath the finger 24, and as the said finger 36 rides against the inclined lower edge of the said-finger 2st,

the detent' l8 will'be lifted thus causing the shoulder23'of its nose 22 to clear thebottom wall of the notch 26 in the upper edge oft-he any convenient: point at the bottom of-the shaft or slope. A second line'wire; -43 also leads to these lamps and it will be evident contact or thefinger 13 of the'armature with iio , position shown in Fig V V p p 12 5 that when this circuit is closed through the r the contact screw ,9, all of the lamps will be" lit and will remain lighted so long as. the

armature is held in contact. with the. said:

screw. The numeral 44 indicates a generator and bell located in the engine room; the numeral 45 indicates a generator and bell located at the bottom of the shaft or slope; and, the numeral 46 indicates an electric bell located at the top of the shaft at any convenient point. These bells are in an electric circuit including the wires 47 and 48, which Wires are connected with the binding posts 4: and 5 respectively.

The numeral 49 indicates in general an electric circuit in which is arranged a battery 50, a bell 51, located in the engineroom, and a switch 52, such for example as a push button, located at any convenient point at the top of the shaft.

The operation of the system is as follows: hen conditions at the bottom of the shaft are favorable for the operation of the mine train or the hoisting mechanism, the attendant at the bottom of the shaft or slope will operate the generator l5 thus momentarily closing the circuit in which this generator is located and sounding the audible signals comprising the bells a4; and 4:6 and also energizing the electro-magnets 3. Thusthe attendant at the top of the shaft and the engineer will be apprised by the bells 46 and 4-4 respectively, of the fact that the way is clear at the bottom of the shaft or slope. The attendant at the top of the shaft will, if he then wishes -to direct the engineer to proceed, close the switch 52 so as to ring the bell 51 in the engine room. lVhen the attendant at the bottom of the shaft operates the generator 45, to sound the audible signals and to close the circuit through the elec tromagnets 3, the electric light circuit heretofore referred to will be closed in the manner previously stated so that the lamps 40, 41 and 42 will all be lighted, this circuit being maintained closed until the slide 2-9 of the indicator heretofore referred to, rides against the shoe 32 thereby lifting the detent 18 so as to release the armature 11 and breaking the light circuit. Therefore all three lights will be kept burning so that the attendant at the bottom of the shaft will know that his signal has been received and the engineer and attendant at the top of the shaft will know that the attendant at the bottom of he shaft has given his signal. Of course, when the slide 29 reaches the shoe 32 and the light circuit is opened and the lights therefore extinguished, the attendant at the bottom of the shaft will be warned that the mine train or cage is approaching the bottom of the shaft or slope, and likewise the attendant at the top of the shaft will be apprised of this fact.

It will be understood that due to the inclination of the base 1 so as to cause the armature 11 to assume by gravity the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the provision of a spring for the armature is rendered unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an electro-magnetic circuit-closing device, a magnet, an armature therefor arranged to move therefrom by gravity, a con tact for engagement by the armature, the

armature and contact constituting elements of a circuit-closing means, a detent extending over the armature and having a shoulder to engage the outer face of the armature and hold the armature in engagement with the contact, and means operable to lift the detent to inactive position, the said means comprising a rocking member and a reciprocating member connected therewith and having a lateral finger engaging under an inclined portion of the detent at the free end of the same.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of an electro-magnet, an armature therefor pivotally moiuited at its lower end and arranged to swing from the electromaguet by gravity, a contact arranged to be engaged by the armature whereby to close an electric circuit, a detent pivotally mounted at that side of the armature remote from the electro-magnet and having its free end bearing constantly on the edge of the armature, the said detent and the armature having inter-engaging surfaces whereby when the magnet is energized the arn'iature will be caused to engage the said contact and the detent will bear upon the outer face of the armature and prevent return movement of the armature after the magnet is deenergized, and a releasing member slidably engaging the detent and operable to release the same from locking engagement with the armature and permit the armature to move out of engagement with said contact.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of an electro-magnet, an armature therefor, a contact to be engaged by the armature upon energization of the magnet whereby to close a circuit, a pivoted detent bearing at its free end constantly upon the armature and having a stop shoulder to engage the outer face of the armature and hold the same in engagement with the said contact after the magnet is deenergized, a finger extending upwardly and inwardly from said detent, and a reciprocatory releasing device engaging under said finger and operable to lift the free end of the detent from the armature and permit the armature to recede from said contact.

1. The combination of an electro-magnet, an armature therefor pivoted at its lower end and arranged to permit its upper end to swing from the electro-magnet by gravity, said armature having an upstanding finger, an electrical contact to be engaged by said fin er when the electro-me net is ener ized D D Z:

apivotally mounted detent at theouter side of the armature andhevingr its free end :rid

ing onthe upper edge'of the armature and prov ded with a shoulder to bear against the vouter face of the armature and hold the a r- V mature aga nst the contact when the electroma 'net is'deener 'ized anu JW'ardl inclined finger extending from the upper edge of the; detent, a. vertically disposed rocking lever, a lifting member pivoted to the upper end of said lever-end provided at its free end with In testimony a lateralfinger engaging the under edge'of ,the finger onthe detent, a support for said lifting'member, means acting to-v yieldably 1 hold the lifting member finger at the freelease ofthearmature from the electric contact. i f ALBERT MAJOR. [L $.1

vvhereof I aflix my signature. 

